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The Charlotte Hornets face off against the Chicago Bulls in a matchup of two teams headed for postseason play. The Hornets are in the play-in tournament once again, while the Bulls have clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2017. Chicago still has an outside shot at the No. 5 seed, as it holds the head-to-head edge over the Raptors.
The Bulls are 2.5-point favorites per DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at 232.5.
Hornets vs. Bulls, 8:00 p.m. ET
Pick ATS: Bulls -2.5
The Bulls struggle against good teams, but they can beat up on the bad ones. Chicago is currently on a three-game losing streak but should get star guard Zach LaVine back for this game. The Bulls are 27-13 at home and have more incentive to win this game. Chicago has won both matchups against the Hornets this season and that trend should continue Friday.
Over/Under: Over 232.5
Even with their recent struggles, the Bulls have gone over in three of the last five games. Chicago is capable of getting back into a groove offensively against Charlotte, who is allowing 123.2 points per game in the last five. The Hornets will have to match that poor defense by scoring a lot, so the over is the play here.
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